(CNN) - Two of the top non-partisan political handicappers are altering their ratings of the U.S. Senate race in Missouri following a massive controversy surrounding the Republican challenger, Rep. Todd Akin.

The Cook Political Report Tuesday moved their ranking of the contest from "toss up" to "likely Democrat" and the Rothenberg Political Report from "toss-up/tilt Republican" to pure "toss up."FULL POST

(CNN) - Mitt Romney returns to Iowa Wednesday for a campaign event in Bettendorf then heads to Little Rock, Arkansas for an evening fund-raiser.

Republican running mate Paul Ryan will continue a week-long swing-state tour with campaign events in Virginia and North Carolina Wednesday.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama will continue a two-day swing through Nevada Wednesday with a morning stop in Las Vegas. The president will then fly to New York City for the so-called "Obama Classic" fund-raiser at the Lincoln Center.

First lady Michelle Obama will visit Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida to meet with military families and announce a major veterans and military spouse employment milestone for the Administration and Joining Forces. The first lady will then head to Fort Lauderdale to deliver remarks at a campaign event.

Vice President Joseph Biden will attend a campaign rally and two closed campaign events in Detroit Wednesday.

The Republican Standing Committee on Rules will meet Wednesday afternoon in Tampa ahead of the Republican Convention next week.

(CNN) - A pariah among what he calls "party bosses," Republican Rep. Todd Akin turned to the Internet on Wednesday to help pay for a U.S. Senate campaign that's lost funding since his controversial remark about rape and pregnancy.

Akin, no longer the expected beneficiary of millions of dollars from GOP and outside groups, asked supporters via Twitter to put in a few bucks.

(CNN) – Mitt Romney's stance on class sizes in public schools came under fire Wednesday from President Barack Obama's campaign, which released a television spot featuring parents who say their children benefit from lower student-to-teacher ratios.

The ad, called "Children," will air in Ohio and Virginia on Thursday, the campaign said. Those states are key battlegrounds where Paul Ryan, the Wisconsin congressman running as Romney's vice presidential pick, has campaigned this week.FULL POST

(CNN)– Nine additional Democratic women, many with ties to specific voting blocks, will address the national convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Democratic National Convention Committee said Wednesday.

CNN: Feds: Man arrested for e-mailing threats against Obama
Secret Service agents arrested a Washington man Tuesday for making threats against President Barack Obama, a spokesman with the agency said. The man was identified as Anton Caluori, 31, according to Brian Leary of the Secret Service. Leary said the FBI notified the Secret Service about "alarming e-mails."

CNN: Akin defies mounting calls to withdraw from Senate race
Republican Rep. Todd Akin allowed a state deadline to pass Tuesday, defiantly staying in the race to unseat Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill despite mounting calls for him to withdraw over incendiary remarks on rape and pregnancy. Under Missouri law, Akin would now need to get a court order to pull out of the race as he waited beyond the 5 p.m. deadline. He would also be required to pay for any necessary reprinting of ballots.

“President Obama’s reckless defense cuts that are hanging over our cloud, hanging over the horizon, could put almost 44,000 jobs at stake right here in Pennsylvania. We are not going to let that happen,” Paul said Tuesday.